CHURCH SETS RECORDS FOR CONVERT BAPTISMS, MISSIONARIES IN FIELD

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints set a record for convert baptisms in 1987, according to statistics released Saturday.

It baptized 227,284 converts to the church, up from 216,210 in 1986 and 197,640 in 1985. The previous record was set in 1981 with 224,000 convert baptisms.Not surprisingly, the church also set a record in the number of full-time missionaries, with 34,750 serving at the end of 1987.

Statistics also show that the church has grown 62.6 percent during the past 10 years. In 1977, the church reported 3.96 million members. At the end of 1987, it reported 6.44 million.

The church formed 687 wards and branches or congregations during 1987, or an average of nearly two per day.

It also formed 44 new stakes which are groups of wards and branches during the year, or an average of about 31/2 per month.

It now has a total of 10,907 wards, 2,812 branches in stakes and 2,287 branches in missions. It has 1,666 stakes, 379 districts and 205 missions. The church has organized wards or branches in 97 countries and 25 territories or colonies.